Iowa Valve Co.Eddy Iowa - Oskaloosa, IAIowa Valve Company
produced the "IOWA" fire hydrant from the very early 1900s through
the late 1960s; at some point, by the mid-1950s, they were purchased by Clow Valve. The Oskaloosa, IA plant of Clow
Valve continued producing the same Iowa hydrant under the
manufacturer's name of Eddy Iowa into the
late 1970s at which time the production of venerable Iowa hydrant
ceased. One notable feature of all Iowa Valve fire hydrants was that
they used a toggle action main
valve; which is the reason for the off-center operating nut. The Iowa design
was based on the patents of William W. Corey of St. Louis, MO, and were sold under
the name Iowa-"Corey" type as seen in this
advertisement from 1932. An
Iowa Valve advertisement from 1955 documents that the company was already at this time
a subsidiary of James B. Clow & Sons.

All Iowa Valve Co. hydrants have
"THE IOWA" or "IOWA" cast plainly on top of the bonnet. Most early
hydrants had one piece barrels and generally have "28" cast onto
them which is likely the manufacturer's model number. This model "28"
is covered on this first page.

When all production was switched to the more modern two piece barrel the
model number was changed to "50". Part 2 on the next page
covers the model "50" and is where the later "Eddy Iowa" brand hydrants will be found.

All vintages have screw-in
nozzles. All vintages have an approx. 1.5" wide oval with a number
on it indicating bury depth in feet. This oval is cast just above
the O.D. rib on early 1 pc. hydrants, and is cast onto a plate that is
riveted just above the bolted flange joint on 2 pc. hydrants.
Documented below and on the next page is the evolution of the Iowa hydrant
from the earliest to the latest.

early Model "28" - "THE
IOWA"

Only version with "THE IOWA" cast onto the top of the bonnet;
all later vintage hydrants have "IOWA". The wording on the barrel is
centered relative to the nozzles except as noted below.

Only version with "IOWA VALVE CO." and "OSKALOOSA" wording each
in an arc; all later hydrants have all wording horizontal.

One piece barrel with ground line O.D. rib; most
have "28" cast below the bonnet

This first subgroup of hydrants have MAY 22 '06 and FEB 7 '11 patent dates.
Note the OPEN nutpockets similar to those found on Rensselear Corey hydrants.

This second subgroup are later examples that have three patent dates: MAY 22 '06 and FEB 7
'11 as above with the addition of DEC 2 19. Note that they have a different look with the (closed)
nutpockets than the above group.